She moved with her parents and brother to Motala in 1840, where she lived her entire life.

A contemporary writer wrote about her: She preferred to stay in the poor hut where she was born, and remained in the bosom of the poverty which had surrounded her cradle.

[1] Her work was exhibited in London (1862), Paris (1865) and Vienna (1875), and was internationally admired, but she was happy where she was, and lived with her brother in a cottage in Motala her entire life despite her success.

On one occasion, King Charles XV of Sweden, upon a visit in Motala, expressed a wish to see Isberg.

She was sent for by message to her cottage, but Helena Isberg answered, that if the King wished to see her, then he would have to come to her.